Last Updated on 6 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2019: RR vs KKR Preview Dream11 Prediction. Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Preview Dream11 Prediction

The Andre Russell party moves to the Sawai Masingh Stadium. With the IPL 2019 table starting to take shape, including the main four favourites occupying the top four positions, games are now starting to become even more important.

Rajasthan Royals got their campaign up and running with a crucial win vs RCB. They were efficient with ball and bat, restricting Virat Kohli’s men to below 160, and then chasing it with good efficiency. However, the step up is clear, with KKR – IPL 2019’s miracle men – a chance to go top of the table. RR have to somehow keep Andre Russell quiet, as well as maintain good performance for extended periods with KKR possessing a number of other match-winners. Can RR make it two in a row after losing their first three?

Kolkata Knight Riders are indeed the miracle men. Much of that is down to Andre Russell, who plucked victory from the jaws of defeat vs SRH and RCB. This is in addition to coming so close to an incredible win in Delhi. Their win probability vs RCB, with 11 balls to go, sat at just 12%. They ended up winning with five balls to spare, showing that you have to be on your game vs KKR right until the final ball. Will KKR make it four wins from five, and go top of the table?

Also read: Funny Cricket Tweets March 2019 Edition! 20 hilarious cricket tweets.

Key to a RR win

A big concern for RR is the economy rate of their pace bowlers. They concede 9.98 per over in IPL 2019, second only to today’s opponents. Even though KKR are worse in that area, KKR have the mighty dangerous Andre Russell who has shown he can take apart all attacks that have come his way so far. So, the key for RR is to make inroads in the powerplay, and then using their spinners, including last-game hero Shreyas Gopal to good effect in the middle overs. Can RR get the better of the KKR Indian middle order, placing pressure on Andre Russell? More importantly, can they execute well against him?

Also, it would have been pleasing for RR that their top order were in the runs vs RCB. It remains to be seen whether Sanju Samson returns today, so the onus is on the top four of Ajinkya Rahane, Jos Buttler, Steve Smith and Rahul Tripathi to set up a strong platform. Indeed, how they play KKR’s spinners will be crucial, given the men from Kolkata possess the worst economy rate among seamers (10.00) of any team in IPL 2019. Can RR take on KKR’s seamers well, and rotate effectively vs the spinners?

Key to a KKR win

KKR’s spinners will be crucial to the result today. Sunil Narine, Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav were steady in the RCB storm a few nights ago, and all three will be key in putting pressure on the RR top and middle order. However, can the seamers hold their own? They continue to be expensive, which places pressure on the spinners and batsmen to pick up the slack. Harry Gurney, a T20 specialist, could be in line for a game today to help KKR deliver in the death overs. Can KKR pick up early wickets, particularly Jos Buttler, and then target RR’s up-and-down middle order effectively?

Also, the memo for KKR’s batsmen is to set up a platform for Andre Russell. The man is out of this world, scoring 207 runs off just 77 balls so far in IPL 2019. Chris Lynn found some form in Bengaluru, and he needs to build on it. KKR are still waiting for Sunil Narine fireworks at the top, backed up by the likes of Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa and Dinesh Karthik. Will KKR inflict more pain on RR’s seamers, while effectively taking on the likes of Shreyas Gopal and K Gowtham?

Possible Playing 11

RR left out their highest paid player, Jaydev Unadkat, vs RCB. They could stick with the same team, given they won. However, this depends on Sanju Samson’s availability.

RR: 1. Jos Buttler (wk), 2. Ajinkya Rahane (c), 3. Steven Smith, 4. Rahul Tripahi, 5 Ben Stokes, 6. Stuart Binny, 7. K Gowtham, 8. Jofra Archer, 9. Varun Aaron/Jaydev Unadkat, 10. Dhawal Kulkarni, 11. Shreyas Gopal

OnlineCricStore Blog: 3 ways to protect your cricket bat

For KKR, Harry Gurney could come in for Lockie Ferguson.

KKR: 1. Chris Lynn, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Robin Uthappa, 4. Nitish Rana, 5. Shubman Gill, 6. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 7. Andre Russell, 8. Piyush Chawla, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Harry Gurney/Lockie Ferguson, 11. Prasidh Krishna

Dream11 Prediction

Looking for a different opinion? Subscribe to Deekays Predictions YouTube channel.

Key stats and points:

• Jos Buttler has scored half centuries in each of his last four matches at Sawai Masingh Stadium. Dinesh Karthik is an option too, as he has over 400 runs vs RR at an average of +30. He scored 42* (23) vs RR at Jaipur in IPL 2018.
• Chris Lynn has a poor record vs RR. He averages 17 in four games against them, but is coming off a 40+ score vs RCB.
• Nitish Rana in IPL 2019: 63, 68, 1 and 37. He could be picked alongside Robin Uthappa, who despite his modest record vs RR (avg. 23.80), has looked in decent form in IPL 2019: 35, 67*, 11 and 33. Uthappa scored 48 at Jaipur last season.
• Sunil Narine averages 38.71 with the ball vs RR. He took 0/48 off four overs at Jaipur last season, but scored 35 off 25. His all-round abilities still make him a solid pick.
• Andre Russell has scored 207 runs off 77 balls in IPL 2019. With RR’s seamers struggling for control, Russell is a massive danger man.
• Pick Ben Stokes? He has just four wickets in IPL 2019, but scored 46 in the game before last against CSK. Stokes is a decent option if RR bat first. K Gowtham is another decent option, as he took 2/23 at Jairpur vs KKR in IPL 2018.
• Jofra Archer remains RR’s best seamer, despite going for 47 vs RCB.
• Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav took a combined 2/41 off eight overs at Jaipur in IPL 2018.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 18, RR 9, KKR 9
• KKR beat RR by seven wickets in their last visit to Jaipur (IPL 2018).
• Andre Russell’s strike rate in IPL 2019: 268.83.
• KKR will go to top of the table if they win today.

Match Prediction

RR at home is always a difficult test for the opposition.

However, RR’s bowling attack, particularly their seam attack, doesn’t inspire too much confidence. To be fair, KKR’s seamers have struggled too, but if they pick Harry Gurney, they could benefit. Plus, their spinners are good at keeping things steady. Also, the Andre Russell factor is hard to ignore, which is why I will go with KKR to get an important win.

Thanks for reading!